Well



F. R. HYER Nov. 1, 1927.

WELL

Filed June 1'7. 1925 3 sheets-sheet 1 l BY `gel A ORNEY F. R. HYER Nov.l, 1927.

WELL

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17 12.925

Jm ATTORNEY.

Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,630

F. R. HYER WELL Filed June 1'?. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .g i INVENTORAT`TORNEY Patented Nov. l, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

FLOYD R. HYER, OF IBOYNTON, OKLAHOMA.

WELL.

Application led .Tune 17, 1925. Serial No. 37,702.

This invention relates to wells and more particularly to a means toprevent cavyl the productive strata and seriously interferewith the flowof iiuid. 0 l

A further object is to provide acaVings catcher which may withoutpossibility of damage either to itself or the equipment of the well beraised or lowered preparatory to opening the same and which when openedwill provide a substantially positive seal to prevent the cavings fromdropping into the productive strat/a. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a cavings catcher whichmay be employed in connection with standard equipment and which willtherefore involve no radical departure from established and acceptedpractices in so far as the other well equipment is concerned. l

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course ofthefollowing,

description. i

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 'improved cavings catcher in itsclosed position,

Figure 2 is a vertical vsectional view through the improved cavingscatcher, a secf tional knockout disk being shown in its full and dottedline positions,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved cavings catcherin its open position so as to arrest the descent of cavyformations,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line `1 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a perspective of a sectional knock-out disk embodied in thevinvention and which is employed to normally hold the parts in theirfolded positions,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspectiveof one of a pair of rings embodied'in the 1nvention,

.'Figure 7 is a horizontal sectionall 'View taken on line 7-7 of Figure3.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a tubularbody which may be incorporated in a string of casing or the like andlowered into a well toa point beneath or within a cavy formationdirectly above the productive strata so that when the improved cavingscatcher is opened as will be fully described the descent of the cavingswill be arrested.

Figure 3 plainly illustrates that the ends of the tubular bod 5 may beprovided with coupling members and 8 by means of which the tubular bodyis connected to a string of casing. Figure 3 also illustrates that aring 9 is mounted on the tubular body directly above and preferably inengagement with the coupling 8 and is provided with a holding wire orpivot element 10 to which thef lower ends o f an annular series of wings11 -are connected. When the wings are open as shown in Figures 3 and 7the same are overlapped at their side edges so as to provide a lirm stopor barrier to supportl and limit the descent of the 'cavings Theintermediate portions of the wings 11 have pivotal connection asfindicated at 14. with connecting 'links 16, the upper portions of whichare connected to a, hinge member or holding wire 17 which may be thesaine as the wire 10` and which Vis positioned in .an annular groove ina holding'ring 9', It will be seen with particular reference to Figures3 and 6`that the rings'9 and 9 are provided with an annular series oflugs 18 arranged in spaced relation to define a plurality of spacedrecesses for the reception ofthe adjacent portions of the wings 1l andthe links 16. The lugs 18 also form a means of holding the wires orhinge members 10 4and 17 in position.

nt this point it might be Stated that the upper ring 9 is movable on thetubular body 5 and when held in its elevated position as illustratedinFigure 1 will hold the consequently limit the downward movement of thering 9 and the spreading of the wings. When thering 9 is resting on thelugs 21 the wings 11 will be in their operative positions atapproximately fifteen degrees above the horizontal. However, the wingsmay be positioned at any point desired without in any way departing fromthe spirit of this invention. Also an annular shoulder or other suitablestop may be employed in lieu of the lugs 21.

Attention is now directed to Figures 1 and 2 which plainly illustratethat a. suitably stout helical spring is conned .between the ring 9 andthe coupling member 7 so that the moment the ring 9 is released thespring will lexpand and move the parts to open position as fullyillustrated in Figures 3 and 7. It will be seen that the coupling member7 not only functions as such but as a stop or abutment for one end ofthe spring 30.

The upper ring 9 is normally held in its elevated position asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by a knock-out disk consisting ofseparate sections 32 having lugs or ears 33 vwhich extend throughoppositely located openings 34 in the body and engage beneath the ring 9to hold the same up against the influence of the coil spring 30. Theupper edges of the lugs 33 are provided with more or less triangularears or projections 35 which contact with the inner side of the ring 9as shown in Figure 2.

The sections 32 of the knock-out disk are detachably connected by meansof screw bolts 36 having washers 37 positioned on opposite sides of thesections 32. Nuts 38 are threaded on the bolts 36 to hold the sections32 normallyftogether.

In preparing to lower the apparatus into a well the same is incorporatedin a string of casing and set or 'positioned as illustrated in Figure 1.That is to say the sectional knockfout disk is placed in position sothatthe wings will occupy their closed position as illustrated in Figure 1.This figure plainly illustrates that the wings do not protrude anobjectionable extent when in their closed,

position and consequently the apparatus may be raised or lowered withfreedom and with out possibility of damage to the wings or any otherpart of the apparatus.

When the improved cavings catcher has been positioned properly withrespect to the cavy formation a tool or other object is let down in thewell to strike the knock-out disk and thereby separate the sections 32of the same as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2. As soon -as thesections 32 are separated the lugs 33 which, incidentally, are providedwith curved outer edges will move inwardly through the openings 34 andthe sections 32 will drop to the bottom of the well. This permits thespring 30 to immediately drive the ring 9 down with a substantial forceso that the wings are ositively moved out to their operative positionsas illustrated in Figures 3 and 7. When the wings are thus positionedthey will provide a generous bearing surface and will collect and arrestthe cavings from above so that the saine cannot drop into the productivestrata.

As stated in the objects of this specification by arresting the descentof the cavings the productive stratum is protected so that the flow offluid is in no way interfered with.

A cavings catcher constructed in accordance with this invention may beeasily embodied in standard e uipment 'without an elaborate alterationof the equipment and without the exercise of unusual skill.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed is:

1. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, wings pivotallyassociated with Vthe body and increased in width toward the upperterminals thereof to form stops in the path of descent of cavings fromthe wall of the well, links connected to said wings. and means normallyholding the links and wings in inoperative position.

2. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, wings pivotallyassociated with the body and having the upper terminal portions thereofincreased in width and being free whereby the same may be movedoutwardly into the path of descent of cavings from the wall of the wellto arrest the descent of such casings, links connected to said wings,

and means normally holding the links and wings in inoperative positionin substantially parallel relation to the body.

3. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, wings pivotallyassociated with the body and having the upper terminals thereof.

increased in width and being free to be moved outwardly to form stopsinthe path of descent of material which becomes de tached from the wallof the well above, links connected to said wings, means normally holdingthe links and wings in inoperative position in substantially parallelrelation to the body, and a spring to move said links and wingsoutwardly to operative position upon the release of said means.

4. A cavings catcher for wells comprising -a body, wings pivotallyassociated withy the body, links connected to said"wings for moving thesame outwardly, a ringl movable on said body and having connection withsaid links, and a knock-out member extending through said body andnormally engaging said ring to hold the same in its inoperative positionwhereby to hold theV wings and the links ifi/1 substantially parallelrelation to the body.

`5. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, wings pivotallyassociated with the body, links connected to said wings for movsaid bodyand normally engaging said ring to hold the same in its inoperativeposition whereby to hold the wings and the links in substantiallyparallel relation to the body, and a spring urging said ring to itsoperative position.

6. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, wings pivotallyassociated with the body, links connected to said wings for moving thesame outwardly, a ring movable on said body and having connection withsaid links, a knock-out member extending through said body and normallyengaging said ring to hold the same in its inoperative position wherebyto hold the wings and the links in substantially parallel relation tothe body, and a spring urging said ring to its operative position, saidknock-out member conl sisting of detachably connected sections.

` 7. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a body, ivotd wings arrangedabout the body, 11n s connected to the wings at points Y spaced fromtheir lower ends, a ring movable on the body and having connection withsaid links, a spring urging said ring to operative position on said bodywhereby to move said wings to operative position to arrest the descentof'cavings, and breakable means carried by the body and holding the ringin elevated position, there being means on the body to limit themovement of the ring under the influence of the coil spring.

8. A cavings catcher for wells comprising.

a tubular body having openings, a sectional knock-out member having lugsextending through said openings, a ring 4mounted on said body andnormally held in aninoperative position by said lugs, a spring urgingsaid ring to operative position, and cavings arresting units havingconnection with said ring. Y

9. A cavings catcher for wells comprising a tubular body havingopenings, a sectional knock-out member having lugs extending throughsaid openings, a ring mounted on said body and normally held 1n aninoperative position by said lugs, a spring urging said ring tooperative position, Vmaterial arresting units having connection withsaid ring, said knock-out member consisting of a pair of sections andmeans detachably con- A lon said body and normally held in aninopnecting the sections, there being means to limit the movement ofsaid ring.

11. A cavings arrester comprising a ring, wings pivotally associated/with said ring and adapted to 'be moved outwardly to form a barrier tostop the descent of cavy formations, links connected to said wings, asecond ring having connection with said links, breakable means engagingone of said rings to normally hold the same in an inoperative position,and a spring to urge one of said rings to operative position immediatelyupon being released.

12. A cavings arrester comprising a tubular body having stops, a ringmounted on said body and engaged with one of said stops, wings pivotallyconnected to said ring, means for normally holding saidf wings inoverlapped position about said body, anda spring to move the wings tomaterial arresting position immediately upon being released, the otherone of said stops constituting an abutment for said spring.`

18. A cavings arrester for use in wells, comprising an expansiblecavings arrestin member and having the upper termina thereoffreewhereby'the same may be moved outwardly to an inclined position to catchmaterial dropping from above, a restraining device for releasablyholding the cavings arresting member in collapsed position, and meansfor urging the cavings arresting member to expanded position upon therelease of said restraining device, there being means limiting theexpansion of said cavings arresting member.

14. A cavings arrester for use in wells, comprising a hollow body, anexpansible cavings arresting member' arranged about the body and adaptedto be opened at the upper portion thereof to collect and arrestthedescent of loose material dropping from above to limit the descent ofmaterial from above, a breakable restraining device holding theexpansible cavings arresting member, in collapsed position labout thebody,-

Said restraining device being partly within the body whereby the 'samemay vlbe broken by an object lowered from the surface for releasing theexpansible cavings arresting member, and a spring for moving theexpansible cavings arresting unit outwardly upon the release ofthe same.

FLOYD R. HYER.

